...for Our Extraordinary Teachers During an Extraordinary Year

At its May 3 Special Meeting, the Hockinson School Board reviewed guidelines and data before voting to continue with the HSD's current learning model of 5 full days of learning at HHES and 4 full days at HMS and HHS.

To keep families and staff current with COVID-19 infection rates in Clark County and in our schools, the HSD updates a COVID-19 Dashboard on a weekly basis.

Cheri Daley joins the HSD as its new Director of Business Services.

The page has turned on the HHES Read A Thon and the winners are...

HHS Health/Physical Education Teacher Leslie Pershall was recognized by KXL Radio as an Everyday Hero! Pershall was nominated as a teacher who positively impacts the lives of her students.

Read our latest digital newsletter on Smore.com!

The Clark County Youth Commission is accepting applications through 5/28 for the 21-22 school year.

Superintendent Steve Marshall informed staff of the district's forthcoming Reduction In Force in a letter to all HSD employees on Wednesday evening.

HMST, HCBS and the Hockinson PWT partner for a district-wide cleanup celebration in observance of Earth Day.

The HSD is excited to offer Transitional Kindergarten (TK) for the 2021-22 school year! TK is a free, full-day preschool program for four-year-old students.

Expect to see more “Heart of the Community” imagery on Hockinson school publications as well as around our campuses and town in the coming months.

Read the latest edition of the HSD News Round-up, now hosted on Smore!

OSPI has decided not to administer the Smarter Balanced Assessments or the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science this spring. Instead, the State will move our testing window to fall 2021. Click to read Chris Reykdal's full statement...

Congratulations to the HHS Mock Trial team, one of 24 teams from five districts, who competed in the 2021 YMCA State Mock Trial Championships, March 18 - 21.

Read the latest edition of the HSD News Round-up, now hosted on Smore!

The HSD is receiving over $50,000 in exterior lighting fixtures thanks to a new grant from Clark Public Utilities.

At his March 25 press conference, Governor Inslee announced a Department of Health (DOH) change in social distancing requirements for students in Washington schools. 

With the passage of HB 5395, all Washington schools must adopt a curriculum that aligns with new state sexual health guidelines. Implementation of this curriculum is required for the 2021-22 school year with elementary SEL components in place by 2022-23.

Rick Steele is stepping down as HHS Head Football Coach after 36 years of coaching high school football. Steele established the HHS football program in 2004 and in his 16 seasons compiled a 112-54 record, won two state titles, and influenced hundreds of players.

People Working Together can add a couple of different meanings to their acronym - PWT. Maybe "Providing Working Technology"? Or "Partnering Without Territory"?  The group generously allocated their resources of time and money to provide Chromebooks to HHES 5th Graders.

HHS Senior Ally Peterson finished her Cross County career as the GSHL 2A District Champion on March 18. Fellow seniors Trevan Bischoff and Josh Saeman also finished in the Top 5 at the 2A District Meet. Congratulations Ally, Trevan, and Josh! 

It happened a year later than planned, but the HSD's 150th Anniversary Committee finally planted a commemorative oak tree near the site of the original Eureka School.

Thank you HSD Education Support Professionals! Every day, you help the HSD meet its mission of preparing each student for lifelong success.

Special edition HSD News Round-up with important updates about reopening and hybrid learning.

With the reopening of HMS and HHS come changes to when and how community members can access these two campuses.

HSD families who qualify for Free & Reduced Lunch benefits also qualify for P-EBT! Read on to learn more about this program.

Read on to learn about the HSD's reopening plans for Hockinson Middle School and Hockinson High School.

Season 1 sports are live, declining COVID-19 rates, new stories on the blog, and more!

What is the Workshop Model? Read on to learn how this engaging approach to instruction is benefitting HHES students during hybrid learning.

The HSD's plan to reopen secondary schools in a full day hybrid model has been postponed. Read for more details...

Although they have been unable to Jazzercise in person at the Hockinson Community Center, former school counselor Sue Thompson and her friends have continued their annual "Hearts for Kids" fundraiser for HSD students-in-need.

"When will secondary students and staff return to school?" "What will the schedule look like when HMS and HHS reopen?" "What steps will be taken to ensure student and staff safety?" We know these and other questions are on the minds of our HMS & HHS students, staff, and families. Here is a Feb. 19 update and FAQ from Superintendent Steve Marshall and HEA President Megan Miles.

It's Valentine's Day, which is a good time to salute what makes the HSD so special: Our staff and our students, parents, and community.

The Hockinson School District has developed plans for school operations in the event of inclement weather this winter. Although the HSD is still largely in a remote learning model, these plans are necessary to ensure the safety of staff and students who teach and learn at HSD school sites.

February is African American History Month, a "tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society" (https://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/). The Hockinson School District is committed to making sure every student feels respected and valued and has access to all of academic and extracurricular opportunities our district has to offer.

Your source for bite-size news from around the Hockinson School District. 

National School Counseling Week 2021 (#NSCW21), "School Counselors: All In for All Students," is February 1-5, 2021. This week is set aside every year to celebrate the tremendous impact school counselors have in supporting the socioemotional wellness of students, helping them achieve school success, and plan for a career. We encourage HSD families to take a moment to share their appreciation for the important role counselors play in the lives of our students.

January is School Board Appreciation Month, and this year we’re helping our community get to know our school board and learn about the important work they do to help keep the district running year-round.

What is the right type of mask? Read on for the answer.

HHES students in Grades 1, 2, and 3 joined their Kindergarten classmates in returning to school for small group, in-person learning on Tuesday, January 19.

The HSD Music Boosters partnered with SOLVE to create an MLK Day of Service that brought together parents, students, and school leaders to clean up Hockinson streets and sidewalks.

Reminder: there is no school on Monday, January 18. 

We are so excited to begin seeing our students’ (masked!) smiling faces in just a couple of days!

There is no school on Monday, January 18. 

Just in time to ward off the mid-winter blues, our HHS PE teachers have planned a series of Hawk Activity Hours to get students moving together safely this month.

Just a few updates for our community as we get ready to head into Winter Break. ❄️

We all may be staying a little bit closer to home this year for winter break, so what could be better than an escape between the pages of a new book? The HSD libraries have you covered – reserve your next adventure today!

On December 16, Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced revised disease metrics for school districts to follow when making reopening decisions. View the new benchmarks here.

HSD Superintendent Steve Marshall addressed the new guidelines in his winter break message to families.

Tickets are now available for the HHS Theatre Company's production of "It's A Wonderful Life - The Live Radio Play". Contrary to the title, this recorded-at-home performance will be available for streaming Friday December 18 at 7pm through December 20 at 7 pm.

HHS Band Director Corey McEnry not only coordinated a gig at the Hockinson Tree Lighting for his music students, he joined them.  McEnry organized the holiday-themed "Gangsta Wrappers" saxophone quartet consisting of Avery Viles (tenor), Parker Bruning (alto), and Owen Teckenburg (alto). The four braved cold, wet conditions to add a spirited soundtrack to this year's tree lighting, which was streamed to local families. You can watch a recording of their performance here.  

Read on for more on this community event.

HHS Theater Company students produced an online version of the famous radio play, The War of the Worlds on December 4 and 5, 2020. 

Hockinson Middle School Leadership Students and the Hockinson School District Counselors are working together to provide local families-in-need with food baskets for the holidays. Please support this wonderful cause by signing up to donate today: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D45A9AA29A6FBC07-holiday

HSD parents and students bring holiday cheer to Hockinson community. 

On November 23 Hockinson families were informed that the HSD would not be expanding in-person education beyond its current level due to the increased rate of COVID infections in Clark County.  The letter from Superintendent Steve Marshall is below:

The Hockinson Main Street Team wants to remind us to be thankful for our special community this Thanksgiving.  How are they doing this?  The HMST will flip the switch on its first-ever Hockinson Hometown Lights on Thanksgiving Day and the lights will remain on until 2021.  As explained on the HMST website, the event is symbolic: "This year has been rough, but with a little creativity, we can all find a light in the dark. It’s time to shine, Hockinson!"

The event is 100% volunteer-driven.  The lights were donated or purchased with cash donations.  Volunteers, led by Greenwood Painting, helped to hang them on buildings along Hockinson's main intersection.  A donation also covers the cost of electricity needed to illuminate the lights that have been strung on HSD property.

The HMST hopes these lights raise spirits and brighten the dark nights of winter.

HHES is only school in SW Washington highlighted in study led by the Center for Educational Effectiveness (CEE).

2020 has presented the students, staff, and families of the Hockinson School District with many challenges. On Friday, March 13 schools and businesses across Washington were closed down to reduce the spread of COVID - and things have not been the same since. However, the continued pandemic has revealed some silver linings: It has shown us new possibilities and reminded us of the power of teamwork and the importance of community.

Starting Friday, November 13 the HSD would like to show that the number 13 doesn’t have to mean bad luck. From now until Thanksgiving, we will recognize thirteen benefactors who bring good luck to the HSD and the Hockinson community! While there are many more community partners that deserve a shout out, for 2020 we are putting the spotlight on this special group.

We wanted to share this update from OSPI Superintendent Chris Reykdal:

Yesterday, Governor Inslee announced a four-week statewide set of restrictions in response to the recent rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus.

You may have questions about what the new restrictions mean for K–12 schools. As they have been throughout the phased county-by-county reopening, school districts are exempt from the restrictions.

Free school meal service to resume Thursday, November 12. 

November 2 was a big day for HSD Kindergartners! It was the first day many Kindergarten students stepped foot in the classroom  this school year. They were welcomed by Mr. Robertson and Mrs. Gannon as well as by other HHES staff who came outside to cheer the arrival of these students.

Approximately 80 students will be attending Kindergarten in our part-time, hybrid format.  The State of Washington allows school districts to provide in-person services to a limited number of students, including our youngest learners, as long as safety precautions are followed. These precautions include: Health screenings; enhanced cleaning; cloth masks; social distancing (pictured); hygiene education; and cohorting of students.

Just shy of 50 Kindergarten students will continue to learn in our HVA and remote learning options. Whatever the format, all of our Kindergartners are accessing our wonderful Kindergarten teachers!

The HSD Peer Tutoring Center is now open on Mondays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays from 3:30-4:00.  All HSD students are welcome to join where they will be matched with a peer tutor knowledgeable about the subject. 

A full list of tutors/subjects is available HERE.

To join, sign in to zoom: https://hocksd.zoom.us/j/85465581054

Contact dawn.lloyd@hocksd.org with questions.

Starting Wednesday, Oct. 14 our meal service program will shift to a two-day-a-week calendar.  Meals (daily breakfast and lunch) will be available for pick up on Mondays and Wednesdays.

The HSD Board of Directors invites interested residents of HSD Director Area 2 to apply for an unexpired board term 2017–2021.

The Hockinson Virtual Academy (HVA) uses an array of educational apps to support student learning. Read on to learn how HSD students are using Lexia to improve vocabulary and reading skills.

The organization that guides interscholastic activities and athletics in our state has announced some new guidance on phasing in high school sports practices and, ultimately, contests.  The HSD will monitor infection rates and consider offering optional athletics practices for small groups of students in low-risk sports with safety precautions in place. Read on to view the full WIAA October 6 press release. 

Columbian reporter Lyndsey Hewitt profiled HHS graduate and Fire District 3 firefighter Michael Guinett in a recent "Working in Clark County" feature.  Guinett is a terrific example of the HSD motto: "Preparing all students for lifelong success." We are proud of you, Michael.

Due to enrollment and staffing reductions, the HSD will be revising its main office hours and Wi-Fi Cafe location.

Here is a look at what decisions have been made to date as well as an outline of the steps that will pave the way for a return to athletics and activities in our state's current environment.

Due to continued poor air quality in our region and the need to circulate outside air into our buildings for HVAC and COVID protocols, all of the following will be canceled on Thursday, Sept. 17:

• In-person school services, including Main Office hours, Wi-Fi cafes and Special Education services.

Remote learning and HVA will continue as scheduled for our students.

Pick-up meal service will be available from 11 am - 1 pm.

We will evaluate our area's air quality throughout the day and HSD families and employees will receive further updates regarding in-person services for Friday, Sept. 18.

Hello HSD Patrons.

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Sep 14, 2020 05:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Topic: 9/14 HSD School Board Meeting

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://hocksd.zoom.us/j/85438538524
Or iPhone one-tap : 
    US: +12532158782,,85438538524#  or +14086380968,,85438538524# 
Or Telephone:
    Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
        US: +1 253 215 8782  or +1 408 638 0968 
Webinar ID: 854 3853 8524
    International numbers available: https://hocksd.zoom.us/u/kcWo6xA24g

At its Sept. 8 special meeting, the HSD School Board voted to approve a reduction in staffing for a number of HSD employees. This resolution impacts over 30 full- and part-time classified staff members, either directly through a reduction in force or indirectly through a change in assignment.

According to HSD Superintendent Steve Marshall, the decision to make staffing reductions was a difficult one for the board. He added, "Our board shares my belief that our employees are our greatest asset and they are a huge part of what makes the HSD a special place to learn."

One of our district's network security providers has had a major issue that has caused the reset of 250+ student and staff Google passwords.  

What does this mean?

Those affected will be unable to login to their Google/Zoom/Schoology/Seesaw/Clever accounts until the issue is resolved.   

Can it get fixed?

Yes. We anticipate elementary passwords will be reset before secondary.  This means that Grades K-5 passwords will be reset to what was used successfully earlier today.  Secondary (Grades 6-12) is a little more problematic; a reset may involve a manual reset with HSD support or a mass reset using a new assigned password.

What is the HSD doing?

Our tech department is currently reaching out to affected teachers to help them get their passwords reset so they can resume instruction. Please understand that instruction may not happen today. If they can, teachers will reach out to families with an update.

We are also working with the vendor to figure out what happened, create a solution, and ensure that this does not happen again.

Thank you for your patience.

UPDATE: On October 9, the HSD was informed that we can continue to provide free meals to all students through the USDA Summer Food Service Program for the entire 2020-2021 school year.

Student device distribution will be handled at one central location this year at the HSD district office, utilizing the HMS staff parking and bus lane.

8/7/2020 - In this week's video, HSD Superintendent Steve Marshall updates parents on the district's "Win the Day" planning meetings, a Reopening Report that will be emailed out to all HSD families, and informational videos that will be shared with families next week that will clarify the differences between remote learning and our virtual academy.  A transcript of the video is below.

COVID has challenged the HSD to explore new ways to support students and families.  Some new programs might just find a home in the former Hockinson Middle School Building.

July 31, 2020 - In this week's video, Superintendent Steve Marshall informs families that the district's Reopening Info page has been added to the HSD website and touches on student support programs, some of which could potentially be located at the district's former middle school site. For more information on this proposal, click here. Families are encouraged to share their options and ideas via a link on the final slide of this presentation!

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) today unveiled a modified high school sports calendar designed to minimize COVID-19 risks. The WIAA Executive Board approved a four-season plan, rather than the traditional three-sport season, for the 2020-21 school year.

HSD families can now register for Kindergarten online! Click "Read More" for details.

July 23, 2020 - Superintendent Steve Marshall posted a video today with the following update that includes follow up on the district's recent parent survey and an overview of the HSD Reopening roll out. The HSD will provide weekly updates regarding the reopening of our schools in the weeks ahead.

HSD families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic may benefit from a new state program that promises to help cover the cost of groceries.

HSD and Hockinson Main Street Team join forces to promote local businesses and bring our community together safely.

Resources to learn about, reflect and talk about the annual holiday known as Juneteenth.

The HSD Reopening Schools Task Force meets for the first time this week. The group's goal is to provide direction for the resumption of school.

Look here for updated office hours in the school district as well as a summary of end of the year events.

A summary of parent survey feedback, questions about next fall and more are discussed in Superintendent Steve Marshall's most recent letter to families.

The HSD has been awarded a $100,000 grant to construct a new ADA-approved playground at Hockinson Heights Elementary.

We asked our teachers to share some of their experiences thus far with at-home learning.

From meals provided during the closure to professional development hours put in by teachers & staff, let's go "by the numbers."

Celebrate 150 years of local education with the district's “150th Anniversary Driving Map," featuring historical locations and various points of interest.

The State Board of Education (SBE) has recognized two Hockinson schools for demonstrating growth and supporting students.

On Friday, May 1, 2020, Hockinson School District joined the nation in celebrating National School Lunch Hero Day.

The HHS Class of 2020 would like to add a new chapter to the storied relationship of the nation’s colors and Hockinson schools.

New guidelines related to grading practices during the emergency school closure are now available for students and families.

This spring, HSD staff, parents, and students entered a new chapter of education: At-home learning.  This transition is a work-in-progress and we are interested in learning about how things are going "at home."

On Friday, April 17, the HHS stadium lights and scoreboard were illuminated to honor the Class of 2020 as part of the #BeTheLight initiative. 

To help our students stay connected to school, HHES teachers & staff are sitting down in front of the camera to share some of their favorite stories.

The district will unveil a new online registration process for incoming kindergarten students ('20-'21) later this month.

The latest information from the district following the Governor's decision to close schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.

District staff has been working together to coordinate the roll-out of at-home learning and expectations relating to virtual parent-teacher conferences and more.

The sooner we hunker down, the sooner we can get through this together.

Find school closure updates, frequently asked questions and coronavirus information and resources here.

To adhere to "social distancing" practices, the district is canceling some events including school field trips.

Governor Jay Inslee has asked school districts around the state of Washington to prepare for potential school closures due to the Coronavirus.

The district is celebrating its classified school employees, whose tireless contributions provide essential services to students & staff.

The Hockinson High School Theatre Company proudly presents "The Laramie Project," a student-led performance showing this week at HHS.

Learn about the preventative action being taken by Hockinson School District’s custodial staff in response to the coronavirus.

From school closures to delays, winter weather has a way of keeping school districts on their toes. KPTV Fox 12 stopped by the District this week to learn how the decision-making process unfolds.

With subfreezing temperatures in the forecast, we’d like to take a moment to answer a few questions about our inclement weather procedures.

1-2-3 Grow & Learn Group is now offered at the former Hockinson Middle School building on Thursdays.

Wishing you a safe and joyous holiday season, from all of us at Hockinson School District.

Know before you go: The District Office will close for winter break beginning on Friday, December 20 at 4:30 p.m.

The District has embarked on a new effort to save by participating in an energy conservation program with Clark PUD.

Thanks to a state grant, the library at Hockinson Middle School now boasts an impressive collection of large print edition books.

Ongoing activities are offering students enrolled in Hockinson's Special Education program the chance to build new skills.

Seven fall sports teams at Hockinson High School have qualified for academic awards, with a special honor going to the Girls Cross Country team.

An HHS staff member and community volunteer have been recognized by a business group for their outstanding commitment to students in Hockinson.

The football players at Hockinson High School mark a special achievement by head coach Rick Steele: 100 victories!

Eligible families interested in free and reduced-price meal programs at school are now able to apply for participation at any time during the year.

The women’s soccer team at HHS has dedicated their season to a Camas boy who was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. KPTV Fox 12 visited the team to help tell the story.

On Wednesday, Hockinson School District marked the 18th anniversary of 9/11 with moments of silence and reflection, stories of bravery and grief, and conversations between teachers and students.

With the new school year is officially underway, we thought it would be fun to share a few of our favorite images from the first day of school.

Welcome back to school! We are excited to start the new school year with you! Use this helpful list of resources for all of your back to school needs.

A list of school bus routes for the 2019-2020 school year.
 

Congratulations to HHS’s Equestrian Team! They received the state championship Medium School Team Trophy this spring for earning the most points among all medium-size teams.

Hockinson is proud of our Hawks and happy to share some fun facts about our new graduates!

36% are honor students (GPA of 3.5 or higher)
16% earned the State of Washington Honors Award
16% are members of the National Honor Society
11% also received their Associate of Arts degree

Meals are available during the summer for kids and teens ages 18 and under through the Summer Food Service Program.

Hockinson School District Office Closed June 28 and on Fridays for the month of July 2019 including August 2.

The Hockinson School Board invites you to join them in wishing Superintendent Sandra Yager well at a party Monday, June 10!

We appreciate the many ways the Hockinson community comes through for our schools! HHES's Run for the Arts raised $13,035 this spring.

At HHES's recent Multicultural STEAM Night families shared their cultural heritages with the community while enjoying performances, snacks, art and STEAM -- science, technology, engineering, arts and math -- activities from around the world!

The Annual Hockinson School District Visual Arts Show is this Friday -- May 10 -- from 5:30 to 7 p.m in the HHS Commons. Come and celebrate the artistic achievements of our talented student artists.

This art show is open to students, families and our community. Please join us for an evening of amazing artwork and delicious refreshments!

Clark County certified Hockinson’s vote Friday, May 3, with this final tally:

• The Replacement School Programs and Operations Levy passed 52.25% to 47.75%.
• The Capital Levy for Technology and School Improvements failed 50.92% to 49.08%.

Here’s something you might not know about your favorite French fries: They’re computer-generated. 

OK, they’re not made by a computer, but your French fries are likely made from potatoes that have been analyzed by computer software. It communicates with a machine to chop out defects as the potatoes speed past at 10 feet per second. 

Multiple generations, ages 11 to 90, made beautiful music together Tuesday -- including a Hockinson fifth grader and his great-grandma!

The School Programs and Operations Levy is passing with 52.01 percent of the vote! Final certification will be May 3. 

Our HHS musicians had a stellar weekend at the 2019 Columbia Basin College Band Festival.

The HHS Jazz Band placed in the top three bands, regardless of school size, and took first in the AA division.

Congratulations to Hockinson Heights’ Solar Solvers—they received the “Solar Car All Star” award for elementary schools at the 2019 Solar Car Challenge!

The Solar Solvers are a team of three fifth-grade students—among 40 Hockinson fourth and fifth graders and 160 teams from Southwest Washington competing in the event at Hudson Bay High School.

Thank you to everyone who gathered for Levy Information Night on April 9! Superintendent Sandra Yager and Clark County Assessor Peter Van Nortwick each presented, and their PowerPoint presentations are now available on the Levy Information webpage.

Please join us April 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. for a special Levy Information Night at Hockinson High School. HSD Superintendent Sandra Yager and County Assessor Peter Van Nortwick will be presenting. Get your questions about levies, property taxes and Hockinson schools answered by the experts!

On April 23, 2019, Hockinson voters will decide whether to approve two School District levies.

One is a partial replacement of an existing levy. The other is a new levy, similar to ones from 2009 to 2016.

Please take a few moments to learn about these requests on our Levy Information page.

Planning ahead for the 2019-20 school year? Our year-at-a-glance calendar has been updated with spring break dates!

HHS student artists Rachel Edmonds and Samantha Hills were presented with awards March 19 at the Southwest Washington Regional High School Art Show.

The HHS Theatre Co. brought home its first performance trophy—Excellence in Performance—from the Washington State Thespian Festival!

The cast of HHS's spring play, Neil Simon’s “Rumors,” performed Act 1 in front of the largest audience of the entire weekend and received “superior” scores in 4 of 5 categories: acting transitions, characterization, movement/staging and execution.

The gymnasium erupted in cheers again and again as three teams—the Chinchillas, the Picky Readers and the Kabakes—vied for the opportunity to face off against a team of staff members.

The Hockinson School District Board of Directors has selected Steve Marshall to be the district’s new superintendent.

Greetings from the School Board.

On Feb. 19 our Board held a special meeting to approve two levy resolutions for the April 23 election ballot. One is a partial replacement levy, and the other is a new capital levy. The amounts we requested are the same as the levies that failed to achieve the 50 percent margin needed to pass in the Feb. 12 election.

Our district’s needs have not changed since February. The partial replacement levy is needed because the state does not fully cover basic educational costs, which include a portion of employee salaries and benefits, as well as most of our extra-curricular programs, which have always been funded by local levy dollars. 

Eleven HHS students have artwork competing in the 2019 Southwest Washington Regional High School Art Show.

The creations by ...

The Hockinson School Board approved two levy resolutions for the April 23 election ballot during its Feb. 19 special meeting. One is a partial replacement levy, and the other is a new capital levy.

The requests are identical to the ones that received 47.46 percent and 46.06 percent “yes” votes, respectively, in the Feb. 12 election. They needed 50 percent plus one vote to pass.

The Hockinson School Board has selected four candidates from other western Washington school districts to interview for the position of superintendent. The candidates are:

HSD is hosting a community forum Monday, March 4, where district residents may participate in the process of selecting the district’s next superintendent. 

There will be no school in Hockinson tomorrow -- Friday, Feb. 15, 2019. 

Preliminary results from the Feb. 12, 2019, special election have been released, and it appears Hockinson is the only school district in the state not to pass its levies.

The future looks bright for HHS's Future Business Leaders of America!  All eight of our students who competed at the Southwest Washington Regional Competition qualified for State.  

Due to our snow day Feb. 5, one day has been added to the end of the school year. The last day of school is now scheduled to be Tuesday, June 18, 2019. Please click here for an updated one-page school calendar.

Due to predicted inclement weather, Community Education classes, use of district facilities and many events are canceled for Saturday, Feb. 9, and Sunday, Feb. 10.

Planning ahead? Our 2019-20 calendar is available on our new consolidated calendar page! Please note: Some dates are still to be determined. 

Hockinson School District encourages our voters to be informed. See how much you will pay in 2019 taxes and how it compares to past years on the Clark County Property Information Center website: https://gis.clark.wa.gov/gishome/property/index.cfm. 

Hockinson students showed their musical chops at the Clark College Jazz Festival with group and individual wins last weekend.

Hockinson School District earned a Gold Star Award and was recognized by Gov. Jay Inslee for signing up more than 70 percent of students who are eligible for the College Bound Scholarship. 

Thank you to all of the staff and Hockinson community members who took part in the recent focus groups and survey providing input on Hockinson's search for its next superintendent.

Extracurricular activities offer our students more than creative and athletic outlets. They also encourage community engagement.

Local levy funding helps pay for instructional technology, building repairs and improvements, and Hockinson carefully stewards its funds.

Research shows that involvement in school activities promotes greater academic achievement for every type of learner. Local levy funding pays for academic, fine art and athletic extracurricular activities -- programming not considered "basic education" and therefore not funded by the state. 

Hockinson community members are invited to participate in a community forum Monday, Jan. 14, 2019.

Hockinson Middle School ended the week with an outpouring of holiday cheer … and food and blankets and chew toys and ornaments … during its first-ever Community Service Day on Friday, Dec. 14.

The Hockinson School Board of Direc­tors has approved two requests that will go before the community on the Feb. 12, 2019, ballot. They are a Replacement School Programs & Operations Levy and a new Capital Levy for Technology & School Improvements.

The Hockinson High School Theatre Company is presenting audience favorite “Fiddler on the Roof” Nov. 29-30, and Dec. 6-8.

Dear Hockinson Families,

I am writing to let you know that I have accepted the position of superintendent of Cornerstone Christian Academy, beginning in July 2019. My resignation will go before the Board of Directors at this evening’s special meeting (Nov. 7). I have asked that it be effective July 1, 2019.

This afternoon, at approximately 2:30 pm bus 200 carrying elementary students was involved in an incident on NE 164th Street. 

The Hawks are student-athletes, making their mark in the classroom as well as on the field, in the pool and on the trail.

The girls swimming and cross-country teams have both been named Academic State Champions for the 2018-19 fall sports season—achieving the highest grade-point average among all Washington high schools in their enrollment classification.

Lexie Stucki shows that practice can, indeed, make perfect.

The HHS senior scored a perfect 36 on her ACT test. She’s among fewer than 0.2 percent of test-takers scoring that high on the college entrance exam in 2018.

“I was pretty sure I did well, but did not think it’d be that good,” she said.

Lexie had taken the ACT once before and then bought a program that analyzed her previous score and guided her in areas where she could improve. She spent about 50 hours over the summer studying and working on practice problems.

Although she said she wouldn’t describe the process as “fun,” the new score has inspired her to expand the list of four-year universities she’s applying to. Her goal is to focus on math or science.

“She’s a motivated student who wants to do well and always wants to challenge herself,” said HHS guidance counselor Myke Pace. “Lexie is a well-rounded kid who’ll go on to be successful in whatever she does.”

Lexie plays clarinet in band and marching band—which she describes as “a big, happy family”—and participates in soccer, National Honor Society and Key Club.

What advice does she have for other students preparing to take the ACT?

“Find enough time to study, so you don’t have to cram it all in at the end.”

When the HHS girls soccer team beat R.A. Long Oct. 18 for the league title, it was more than a win for the team. It was also a win for Wyatt.

The team has dedicated its season to Wyatt Draper, a 5-year-old from Ridgefield who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.

“Now that we have that emotional connection to him, it makes it a lot more special to play and to win,” said soccer team captain Brooke Grosz.

Wyatt is the son of Tyler and Sara Draper, who went to school with HHS soccer coach Joe Chicks in Ridgefield.

“I thought it would be a good way to get our girls involved in something bigger than sports and giving back,” Chicks said. “Some things are more important than just soccer. This puts things in perspective.”

When the team warms up before matches, they wear “Warriors for Wyatt” T-shirts. Before each game begins, they say, “Let’s play for Wyatt.”

“We play for each other, we play for our community—but we also play for Wyatt,” said Brooke, who is a junior.

Technically, the team has one league game left, Oct. 23 against Woodland. But even if they lose, HHS will retain its No. 1 ranking in the 2A Greater St. Helens League.

“They’re a really talented group of players,” Chicks said, “but I think a big part of their success is they’re willing to put the team above themselves. When you’ve got the talent and the right attitude, it makes for a special season.”    

HHS will host a College and Career Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the HHS Commons. 

Representatives from colleges and universities around the Northwest, branches of the military, trade/tech schools and apprenticeships will be there to provide information and answer questions from students and families.

Also -- new this year -- is a workshop titled "The A-Z of Paying for College." It will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

TIME CORRECTION: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is scheduled to test the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) at 11:18 a.m. Oct. 3, 2018.

The test is intended to assess the operational readiness of infrastructure for distribution of a national message and will be sent to cell phones connected to wireless providers participating in WEA.

For more information, please see the FEMA website.

The Hockinson School Board voted Monday, Sept. 24, to move Graduation Day for HHS's Class of 2019 to Thursday, June 13.

There's an app for that! Hockinson School District's smartphone app is available, and here's how to get it:

Visit your app store and search for "SchoolPointe Stay Connected." 
Download the Schoolpointe app. 
Select Hockinson School District.

HSD will become your default app, and you will have the latest district news, events, staff directory, notifications and more -- all on your smartphone!

Hockinson Middle School and architect DOWA-IBI Group have received an award for Outstanding Design! 

The HMS project will be included in the 2018 American School & University Architectural Portfolio, which is scheduled to be published in late November, and will be among projects included in an online database at SchoolDesigns.com.

The latest version of Hockinson's 2018-19 calendar is available in the Quick Links in the top righthand corner of the district homepage.

We're so excited to have our students back in class! Check out our back-to-school photos at: www.hocksd.org/Gallery

We are excited to welcome our Hockinson students back to school tomorrow—Tuesday, Sept. 4—and kindergartners on Friday, Sept. 7! More ...

Hockinson School District and Hockinson Education Association negotiators reached a tentative agreement Sunday night on a two-year contract for certificated staff.

Details of the agreement will be released pending ratification by the teachers union, which is meeting at noon Monday, Sept. 3.

School is tentatively scheduled to begin Tuesday, Sept. 4. The district will send an update Monday.

“We appreciate our community’s patience during these negotiations and their enthusiastic support for education in Hockinson,” said Superintendent Sandra Yager. “We are eager to welcome our staff and students back to school and to embark on another exciting school year.”

The negotiating teams are not meeting today but are scheduled to return to negotiations tomorrow—Sunday, Sept. 2. We apologize for the multiple messages but will continue to do our best to keep our community updated during this process. Our next update will be on Sunday.

Dear Community Members:

Greetings from your Hockinson School Board.

Our school district’s work stoppage has been a challenging time for our community, staff and particularly for our families with school-age children. We appreciate your sacrifices and your patience.

We have been keeping in close contact with Superintendent Yager throughout this negotiation and mediation process, providing her with support and encouragement as she and her staff work toward a prompt, affordable and sustainable solution.

We truly value each of our employees, and want to find resolution within the constraints of the district’s budget. Our goal is to get our teachers, classified staff and students back to school as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Kathy Nordberg, Chair

Dave Olson, Vice Chair

Gordon Smith, Director

Greg Gospe, Director

Steve Nylund, Director

Hello, Hockinson Families --

The district and teachers union bargaining teams are still at the table negotiating, working toward an agreement.

We will be in touch again tomorrow, Saturday, with a negotiations update.

Thank you for your patience. 

For additional details about the process, please see our Labor Relations web page. If you have questions that have not been answered, please email districtcommunication@hocksd.org.

Hockinson School District

Road work is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 31, at the corner of NE 159th Street and 182nd Avenue. Please use caution.

Hello, Hockinson Families --

We continue to make progress in negotiations.

The Hockinson School District and Hockinson Education Association (HEA) have yet to reach a tentative agreement.

This means that HEA, which represents our teachers, will continue its work stoppage, and there will be no school tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 31.

School offices remain closed, and the District Office will be open regular hours.

The district and union bargaining teams will continue negotiating, and we will keep you posted as we work toward an agreement.

Our goal remains unchanged: to provide a competitive salary that is affordable and sustainable, both for our school district and for our community.

The district will continue providing updates on its Labor Relations web page and its hotline at 360-448-6401.

If you have questions that have not been answered, please email districtcommunication@hocksd.org.

Hockinson School District

Good morning, Hockinson community --

The negotiating teams are meeting with the state mediator again this morning after a one-day break, and everyone is working hard to reach agreement.

The district will send an email, text and voice call by 5 p.m. today—and earlier if possible—informing everyone whether school will start tomorrow.

The district appreciates the hard work of the negotiating teams and extends its thanks to the district’s entire staff, and students and families for their patience at this difficult time.

Updates will continue to be posted on the District’s Labor Relations webpage and on the hotline at 360-448-6401.

Mediation to resume Thursday, Aug. 30.

The Hockinson School District and Hockinson Education Association negotiating teams will be meeting Thursday to continue working toward a contract agreement. 

HSD will use the same notification process we used Tuesday, Aug. 28, to notify our families about whether there will be school the following day -- robocall, email and text messaging. We will share this information as soon as it is available.

The document linked below offers answers to many questions from our community, including questions about the current work stoppage. We also have added an article from WSSDA on 2018-19 school district budgets and collective bargaining. 

Hockinson School District Labor Relations Q & A

Dear Hockinson Families:

I am writing to let you know that even though we have made progress over the past couple of days, the Hockinson School District and Hockinson Education Association (HEA) were unable to reach a tentative agreement today. This means that HEA, which represents our teachers, will begin a two-day work stoppage tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 29.

The negotiating teams are back to mediation after working until 2 this morning. Both the district and teachers union are committed to working hard today in an effort to reach agreement.

With the first day of school scheduled to begin less than 24 hours from now, we understand that families need to finalize their plans for Wednesday.

Negotiating teams for Hockinson School District and the Hockinson Education Association (HEA) are working into the night with a mediator from the state Public Employees Resource Commission (PERC).

They engaged in mediation Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, from 9 a.m. until midnight. Negotiations resumed at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 27. The District is willing to stay at the table for as long as it takes to reach a tentative agreement on a new contract. HSD is striving to provide its staff with competitive compensation while ensuring contracts are affordable and sustainable for the District.

The updated document linked below provides answers to many questions regarding labor negotiations.

Hockinson School District Labor Relations Q&A

If you have a question that has not been answered, please send it to districtcommunication@hocksd.org. 

Click here to visit the Labor Relations webpage.

Dear Hockinson Families:

As you are probably well aware, Hockinson School District is negotiating a new contract with the Hockinson Education Association (HEA), which represents teachers, counselors and other education professionals.

The document linked below is an analysis of guidance sent to districts today, Aug. 22, 2018, by state schools Superintendent Chris Reykdal.

State schools superintendent cautions negotiating districts

Dear Hockinson Community:

I hope you have been enjoying a good summer. We are eagerly anticipating getting our students back on our campuses for the start of the 2018-19 school year.

As you have likely heard, we are still negotiating contracts with our staff. As of Aug. 21, 2018, the district and Hockinson Education Association (HEA)—teacher union—have negotiated tentative agreements for 23 changes requested by the union. However, there remains a considerable difference between the union’s compensation requests and what the district’s budget can afford. We are scheduled to begin mediation Sunday, Aug. 26, with assistance from Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC).

Mediation to begin Sunday, Aug. 26

Today, Tuesday, Aug. 21, we were notified that the first meeting for Hockinson School District (HSD) and the Hockinson Education Association (HEA) with a mediator will take place Sunday, Aug. 26.

Why bring in a mediator?

On Wednesday, Aug. 15, there remained a considerable difference between HEA’s compensation requests and what HSD’s budget can afford. Per the request of the district, HSD and HEA jointly filed a request for a mediator from the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC). A mediator was assigned to Hockinson on Friday, Aug. 17.

Click here to visit the Labor Relations webpage.

If you have a question that has not been answered, please send it to districtcommunication@hocksd.org.

The document linked below provides answers to many questions our community has about Hockinson School District's budget, state funding and current labor negotiations. 

Hockinson School District Labor Relations Q&A

If you have a question that has not been answered, please send it to districtcommunication@hocksd.org. 

Click here to visit the Labor Relations webpage.

This provides information about the Hockinson School District’s budgeted revenues and the salary and financial requests from Hockinson Education Association (HEA) and Hockinson Educational Support Staff (HESP).  It also shows the current proposals of average salaries from the Hockinson School District (HSD) and (HEA).  If you have a question that is not answered in this document, please email it to districtcommunication@hocksd.org.

Greetings from Hockinson School District.

Our district has been in contract negotiations with its two unions over the past few months.

As of Aug. 16, 2018, the district and the Hockinson Education Association (HEA)—teachers union—have negotiated tentative agreements for 23 changes requested by the union.

However, at the Aug. 15 meeting of HEA and district negotiators, there remained a considerable difference between the union’s compensation requests and what the district’s budget can afford.

Hockinson School District is pleased to announce a new online facility request and rental system designed to provide a positive user experience for all.  

Washington State Law requires that all children attending a licensed child care or school must provide proof of vaccination prior to entering school. Parents/guardians can meet this requirement by completing and returning the State of Washington Certificate of Immunization Status form, this form shows their child has received the required vaccinations (or has immunity from previous illness). Parents can also print a copy of their child's immunization record directly from the WA Immunization Registry. This form and instructions can be found at https://www.doh.wa.gov

Congratulations to our 184 students who graduated on June 15!

Please join us at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, in the High School MPR for an information night and discussion about what HSD is doing to address school safety.

Hockinson School District will see some leadership changes this summer

Hockinson School District is home to some amazing artists! Here are exhibits that our High School students shared at the district art show May 4.

The Hockinson Board of Directors officially accepted the new Hockinson Middle School at a May 9 dedication ceremony in the HMS gymnasium.

Check out this beautiful artwork by some of our district’s elementary school students! It was on display May 4 at the district art show, along with art from students in Hockinson’s Middle and High schools.

Kindergartners-to-be and their families are invited to the annual Kindergarten Roundup on May 10, 6-7 p.m., at Hockinson Heights Elementary School. They will have the opportunity to meet teachers, tour the lunch room and library, and even check out a school bus!

Feel free to bring in completed kindergarten registration packets, or pick one up that evening.

Come and celebrate our talented student artists at Hockinson School District’s annual district-wide art show! It will be 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, May 4, in the HHS Commons.

After a whirlwind of a weekend, Hockinson High School’s musicians brought home a treasure trove of awards.

Hockinson School District congratulates Assistant Superintendent Slade McSheehy on his acceptance of the position of superintendent at Vashon Island School District. He will begin his new position July 1

A robot named Atlas is taking some Hockinson students—and their teammates from Camas and Washougal high schools—to Houston, Texas this week. 

Hockinson Heights Elementary invites the community to its annual Multicultural STEAM Night from 5:30 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 19.

Water testing at Hockinson Heights Elementary School shows the water is safe to drink, and lead levels are far below federal guidelines.

The Hockinson School District Board of Directors has decided to sell a 35-acre parcel at Northeast 169th Street and Northeast 217th Avenue in Brush Prairie.

It isn’t every day that Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Granneman hands out a citation for kindness. In fact, the one the Hockinson High School resource officer handed out on Friday was the first to go to an HHS

The 2018 Southwest Washington Regional High School Art Show is in progress, and you are invited!

Dear Hockinson Families,

As our nation engages in the very difficult but necessary conversation about school safety, I want to share with you that in Hockinson we take this issue very seriously. 

Hockinson collaborates with several local school districts to support a local student Robotics Team that primarily works out of Camas. 

Collecting food and other donations for those in need is a tradition in all of Hockinson’s schools, and the end of 2017 found our students especially busy making life better for their neighbors. 

A new school does more than replace an old one—it opens up new ways of teaching and learning.

Reflecting on the Hawks’ first-ever state football championship in December, two teammates said a sense of community—on field and off—was key to their success. 

This year’s property tax bills include new tax rates related to schools, particularly at the state level. Here is some information about these changes.

Congratulations to our amazing and talented Hockinson musicians! The HHS Jazz Band won first place at the Clark College Jazz Festival in the AA Division, and Riley Lyons, Erik Hawkins, Zeke Dodson, and Jack Broer received Outstanding Soloist awards. Corey McEnry is the HHS band director.

Nineteen HHS and five HMS students were selected for the 2018 North County Honor Band, which gathered Jan. 19-20 at Hockinson.

Hockinson School District, as part of the identification process for the Highly Capable Program, will be accepting applications to the Highly Capable Program between January 17th and January 31st. Applications will be screened and the district will be administering the full CogAT between February 5th and February 9th during regular school hours. Please read the parent letter by clink on the link below.
HSD HiCap Testing Parent Letter

Congratulations to Hockinson School District's newest National Board Certified Teachers! 

Around 100 HHS students sang, danced and acted their way into the hearts of audiences with their December production of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas. Here are a few photos in case you missed it—or would like a glimpse of the production! Congratulations, Hawks!

We’ve had an amazing start to the school year with the brand-new Middle School, and we're eager to share it with our community! Please plan to join us for a dedication and open house in the spring, when everything is complete. Meanwhile, stay tuned for upcoming patron tours.

Students at Hockinson Heights Elementary are learning to reduce food waste and share what they don't need with others. Check out their efforts, which were recently shared on the Clark County Green Schools website. Way to go, Hornets!

Joshua BrownSilva has joined Hockinson School District as its new nutrition director with Chartwells food service.

With winter here and memories of last year's snows still fresh on our mind, it is time for a quick refresher on how Hockinson lets families know when weather or other emergencies force school delays or closures. We've included the link to our district web page for emergency closure information. As always, please remember to keep your contact information up to date if you have recently moved or changed your information. 

Thank you very much and have a Happy Holidays! 

Weather & Emergency Closure Information

The Hockinson Heights Elementary School’s elves have been hard at work creating holiday murals for the art contest at the 25th annual Winter Wonderland light show at Portland International Raceway. 

Thanksgiving came early to Hockinson High School with the Developmental Resource Room’s annual Thanksgiving Feast. 

Thanks to the efforts of a Hockinson High School junior, octoball—or gaga ball—has arrived at the Middle School.

Getting Hockinson Middle School’s main wing open in time for the first day of classes this fall was a feat.

When Jennifer Teegardin’s second grade students learn about solids, liquids and gases, they don’t just memorize words and definitions—they make pancakes.

One recent morning, a group of Hockinson High School students sat at a bank of computers, writing and troubleshooting JavaScript code—part of the school’s first computer science class. 

Amy Curtis has been named Chartwells’ west region hourly associate of the year for 2017!
 
A cashier in the High School café, Curtis was nominated by food service director Colleen O’Brien, who says she “shines brightly whenever called upon.”
 
The Chartwells west region includes 87 school districts across 10 western states. 
 
Congratulations, Amy, and thank you for your hard work!

Congratulations to Hockinson High School! At the Oct. 9 Board meeting, the school received its accreditation through 2023, along with several commendations from Washington’s Association of Educational Service Districts:

The Hockinson School District Citizens Advisory Committee invites you to "Meet the Candidates" of the 2017 school board election:

It’s all happening! 

Hockinson Middle School will be open and ready to welcome our students as planned on Wednesday, Sept. 6!

The beginning of the school year is always an exciting time for Hockinson School District, and this year is especially so! Our contractors are working to get the new Middle School ready for the first day of school, Sept. 6. Read more details in the message Superintendent Yager sent Aug. 24 to Middle School parents.
 

Progress on the new Hockinson Middle School continues at a fast pace with crews doing finishing work inside the building, grading the grounds and preparing to install sidewalks. 

Watch your mailbox for a ballot, Hockinson School District residents!

The Hockinson School Board has released a preliminary summary of results from its online survey seeking input and ideas for improving the primary athletic field at Hockinson High School.

Road construction season has arrived in Hockinson! The new Middle School construction includes some road work on 182nd Avenue, north of 159th Street. Word is that the work will continue at least for this last week of school, so if you have an alternate route available, please use it.

Fun Days are almost here -- a ribbon-cutting and a race, bazaar and bingo, a parade and pancakes, plus the country carnival. It's all happening June 2-3, 2017!

Find the full schedule at the Hockinson Booster Page

Sunflowers are blooming at Hockinson Heights Elementary—thanks to a group of hard-working fifth-graders!

Families, please mark your calendars: Hockinson schools will release at the regular time on Wednesday, June 7, and Wednesday, June 14, 2017.

The improvements at Hockinson High School are nearly complete, and we want to share them with our community, which made them possible!

Longtime Hockinson community member Scott Swindell has taken his seat as the newest member of the Hockinson School Board of Directors

Three Hockinson teachers have been awarded $500 Literacy Grants from iQ Credit Union. The money is intended to support innovative ways to celebrate and promote literacy among middle and high school students

How are we doing?

Thank you to everyone who attended the English Curriculum Adoption Parent Night May 9!

The Hockinson High School Leadership Class invites our community’s senior citizens to acknowledge all you do for our community. Please join us for cookies, sandwiches, and tea. Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 3:30 p.m. in the Hockinson High School Library (16819 NE 159th St., Brush Prairie)

We hope to see you there!

Over the past 6 months, the Hockinson School District English Curriculum Review Team has been evaluating a wide variety of curriculum for the purpose of adopting a K-12 English curriculum.

Hockinson Middle School band students got to make music with the pros April 25, when the Vancouver Pops visited the school.

Congratulations to our Hockinson High School musicians, who recently had some inspired performances at the University of Portland and Columbia Basin College jazz festivals!

Literature has a way of inspiring students, and this spring four Hockinson High School students received Letters About Literature awards for letters they wrote in response to books they read.

As part of a unit on drugs and alcohol, Hockinson High School health teacher Leslie Pershall is giving her students the opportunity to use impairment goggles to get a sense of how dangerous it can be to drive under the influence. 

Ask second-grader Kieran what his favorite class is, and he won’t miss a beat: “STEM.” 

Hockinson High School offers students the opportunity to try out many different activities—from traditional sports and music groups to special interests like the Equestrian Team and Robotics.

Hockinson's Food Service program emerged with flying colors after a three-day on-site administrative review, plus an off-site and resource management review, which completed 21 areas of compliance.

The days leading up to vacation seem to pass ever-so-slowly, so what better to study than snails?

The Hockinson School Board of Directors has officially appointed Scott Swindell to District 5 vacancy left by Katherine Davis, who moved out of the district and resigned effective January 31, 2017.

The 2017 Multicultural Arts & Poetry Night at Hockinson Heights Elementary attracted hundreds of community and family members who joined our students and staff to celebrate cultures from around the world.

Congratulations to our Hockinson High School artists, who have been recognized at the 2017 Southwest Washington Regional High School Art Show!

Hockinson Middle School students spent part of Valentine’s Day making 40 blankets and donating them to Fire District 3 to distribute to people in need. It was a project of the school’s mentoring program in which seventh and eighth graders work with sixth graders to ease their transition into middle school.

Hockinson School District implemented a new math curriculum in grades 6-12 last fall. Now, several months into using the CPM curriculum, HMS teacher Mariah Maudlin offers a glimpse of what math now looks like for today’s sixth graders.

The Hockinson High School Jazz Band took first place in the AA Division high school jazz ensemble category at the 55th annual Clark College Jazz Festival in Vancouver. The group also received three outstanding soloist awards: Erik Hawkins -- drums, Alexander Lee -- alto sax, Riley Lyons -- trombone and Alex Ulman -- trumpet.

Hockinson School District Board member Katherine Davis announced her resignation at Monday’s Board meeting. It is effective Jan. 31.

Last night, 25 students in the HMS STEM program held an evening demonstration of their learning at the middle school. These STEM Hornets were led by Mr. Muckerheide in their completion of several project-based hands on learning activities. Each activity in the HMS STEM program helps students develop a deeper understanding of the Engineering and Design process as well as how to collaborate with each other. Included in the demonstrations were individual challenges such as how to build a structure out of spaghetti to support a golf ball. Parents as well students competed against themselves to see if they could complete the challenge. This was a fun event for all and a great way to see our young Hornets in action. 

Nicely done and Kuddos again to Mr. Muckerheide and Mr. Lehner for supporting this event!

One snow day will be made up after today. Yeah! Happy Friday everyone!

Congratulations to our HMS and HHS students who were selected to play in the fourth annual North County Honor Bands! The bands were hosted last weekend in Hockinson by HHS and HMS band directors Corey McEnry and Jennifer Ritenburgh. 

The fourth annual Hockinson History Day was a hit last week with more than 120 seventh- and eighth-grade students showcasing projects for their families, community and staff. The 2017 theme is “Taking a Stand in History.”

Get ready for the HMS STEM Evening of Growth!
 
Thursday, Jan. 26, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., our Middle School students will share their science, technology, engineering and math-related projects, including Rube Goldberg machines, LEGO robotics, catapults, wind turbines, bridges and more! It's all happening at the Middle School.

To start, we would like to thank all of the community and staff for all of their feedback these past few weeks. This is an important decision that required thoughtfulness and resourcefulness. Given the amount of details and hours that were spent working on a solution, we know a plan for everyone may not fit for everyone and we are thankful for everyone's flexibility.

Please join us Monday, Jan. 30, for an information and question-and-answer session about the levy proposition Hockinson has on the Feb. 14, 2017, ballot.
 

Thanks to Home Depot, Hockinson Heights Elementary School is better prepared for the unexpected!

Area families will soon have an opportunity to stock their pantries—thanks to Hockinson Middle School’s 2016 Canned Food Drive!

It felt like Christmas at HHES Tuesday as music teacher Megan Miles received a giant-sized $4,000 check representing the grant she received from Music Aid Northwest last spring.

With plenty of new faces—including its two top administrators—Hockinson Heights Elementary has been focused this fall on building community.

Hockinson School District cares about its students—both in the real world and in cyberspace. 

Thank you to all who participated in our fall 2016 Communication Survey. The results—outlined below—have been reported to the School Board as well as to the District administration team, which includes building principals. Principals will work with the data and their leadership teams to find where communication can be improved. We will give this survey again in the spring to determine whether we are continuously improving.

It’s a fact—healthier students are better learners. That’s why Hockinson School District has put together a new team to make our schools a healthier environment for everyone. The District Wellness Committee will be planning ways to make eating healthier and getting more exercise a fun and integral part of every school day.

Earlier this fall, Hockinson Middle School’s STEM classes took a break from their own building projects to don hard hats and boots at the site of a much bigger undertaking: the building of a new Middle School.

Hockinson High School football coach Rick Steele tried something new this year—he began teaching an optional 45-minute “Man Class” every Wednesday before practice. HHS junior Colton Wheeler says the talks brought the team together and were having a positive impact. “It’s preparing us to make the right decision and choose the right path,” Colton says. 

The Thanksgiving Feast hosted by Hockinson High School’s Developmental Resource Room felt like a family reunion.

Hello Hockinson Families,

As we strive to continually improve communications at HSD, we welcome your support and feedback. Please take a few minutes to fill out this quick 10-question survey. The results will be used to strengthen and develop the work we're doing on district goal No. 3: Communication and Community.

The survey will be open until Nov. 17. 

Thank you!

Hockinson's schools are honoring our nation's veterans Thursday, Nov. 10, and invite the community to join us.

Please see the update to our iPad Assurance policy regarding iPad charging cables and iPad charging bricks. This policy is for our take home 1:1 iPad program, grades 6-12. Students will keep the iPad charging brick and cable while they are a student in HSD. As we transition to this new policy, students/families will be able to exchange any defective brick and cable that was issued to them by October 31st.

Hockinson School District is planning for the unexpected—and would like to hear from you!

In celebration of Legendary Teacher Day, video production students at Hockinson High School interviewed several staff members about people who made a difference in their lives. Their videos are showing now on the district YouTube channel.

Hockinson School District is now using Schoology, an integrated learning management solution that provides course management, mobile learning, and support for systemwide communication. Schoology enables our students, parents and teachers to engage with learning materials and their school community from the classroom and beyond. We look forward to using Schoology in our classrooms to enhance connectivity and communication across our district.

Good news about Hockinson’s future Middle School: Students and staff should be able to move into their new digs a semester early -- in fall 2017!